How to Become an Electrician in Arkansas
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 15% job growth for electricians in Arkansas between 2024 and 2034, a rate much higher than the national average. This makes electrician careers a strong choice for job security and employment opportunities. If you plan to become an electrician in Arkansas, it is important to understand the education, training, and licensing requirements. [En Español]
Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Arkansas
The department that licenses electricians in the state is the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners. The Board licenses electricians in the following categories:
- Journeyman electrician
- Master electrician
- Residential journeyman electrician
- Residential master electrician
- Air conditioning electrician
- Industrial maintenance electrician
- Electrical apprentice
The first step to becoming an electrician in Arkansas is completing a training program. This can be a vocational school, career school, or apprenticeship that combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience. Many technical and community colleges offer these programs. Another option is to complete an electrician school program, either online or in person, to learn the National Electrical Code and other technical skills before starting an apprenticeship. These programs typically lead to a career diploma.
The next step is obtaining a journeyman electrician license. An approved apprenticeship program provides the required hours for licensing. If you do not complete an apprenticeship, you must have eight years or 16,000 hours of field experience in electrical construction. In Arkansas, all applicants must pass the journeyman electrician exam to become licensed.
To become a master electrician in Arkansas, you need six years of work experience in construction, including two years as a licensed journeyman. Another path is earning a degree in electrical engineering and completing two years of work experience. Master electricians can also become Independent Electrical Contractors after holding a master electrician license for at least five years. Each license type requires passing an exam, making continuing education and technical training essential.
Once licensed as a master electrician in Arkansas, you can apply to become a licensed electrical contractor with the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. You can search for Arkansas licensed contractors here.
Beyond this, with five years of experience as a master electrician (or employing someone with this qualification), and passing the Arkansas Business and Law exam, you can also apply to become a licensed commercial contractor, allowing you to work on residential properties and projects of larger value.
In the state of Arkansas, all Master Electricians, Journeyman Electricians, Residential Master Electricians and Residential Journeyman Electricians must obtain 8 hours of continuing education (CE) every code cycle before license renewal. All hours must cover the current National Electrical Code (NEC).
Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in Arkansas
Electrician schools provide one path to becoming an electrician in Arkansas, but an approved apprenticeship program is often the best option. An apprenticeship meets all the requirements for a journeyman license while providing both classroom instruction and hands-on training with a master electrician. Both union and non-union programs are available, each lasting four years.
Union apprenticeships are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and include:
- El Dorado Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, El Dorado
- Jonesboro Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, Jonesboro
- Fort Smith Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, Fort Smith
- Little Rock Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, Little Rock
To qualify for an apprenticeship program, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license, provide a high school transcript or GED certificate, complete one algebra course, pass a drug test, and pass an aptitude test.
The non-union Mid-South Chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors also offers an apprenticeship program that includes 144 hours of classroom learning and 8,000 hours on-the-job training. The requirements for being accepted are similar to those for the union programs.
Outlook and Salary Expectations
If you choose to work toward becoming an electrician in Arkansas you can expect to have a lot of opportunities for jobs. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) records that in 2024 there were 9,430 electricians working in the state and that there will be nearly 10,860 by 2034. This should mean the opening of 840 electrician jobs in Arkansas each year.
Salaries for electricians in the state are commensurate with the extensive training required to become licensed. The average annual salary is $53,470 (BLS May 2025 OEWS data). The top 10% of electricians in the state earn $74,460 or more.
Salaries in Arkansas by Occupation
| Occupation | Total Employment | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Wage | Annual Salary 10th Percentile | Annual Salary 25th Percentile | Annual Salary 75th Percentile | Annual Salary 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 6,500 | $23.31 | $48,480 | $32,500 | $33,770 | $59,070 | $66.080 |
| Helpers--Electricians | 250 | $12.05 | $35,610 | $25,070 | $27,070 | $38,730 | $50,640 |
| Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 290 | $28.64 | $80,360 | $30,210 | $41,140 | $80,360 | $94,310 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 440 | $24.99 | $51,980 | $36,620 | $42,820 | $63,650 | $75,840 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 290 | $46.44 | $96,600 | $62,790 | $83,370 | $104,310 | $104,310 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 1,940 | $35.29 | $73,410 | $38,720 | $57,990 | $95,130 | $100,670 |
Electrician Salaries in Arkansas by Region
| Area | Total Employment | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary | Hourly Wage 10th Percentile | Hourly Wage 25th Percentile | Hourly Wage 75th Percentile | Hourly Wage 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 2,450 | $26.28 | $54,560 | $17.70 | $21.96 | $31.94 | $36.70 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 270 | $28.25 | $58,760 | $16.09 | $19.95 | $36.18 | $36.18 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 1,120 | $23.40 | $40,830 | $11.42 | $18.53 | $28.93 | $33.84 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 280 | $23.48 | $48,680 | $17.03 | $17.92 | $28.07 | $33.75 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 220 | $21.91 | $45,560 | $14.21 | $17.62 | $26.50 | $28.40 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 180 | $23.44 | $48,750 | $14.81 | $18.28 | $28.09 | $29.20 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 1,780 | $22.80 | $47,430 | $15.74 | $18.22 | $28.39 | $29.70 |
| Pine Bluff, AR | 130 | $33.70 | $70,100 | $20.47 | $27.16 | $37.09 | $37.09 |
Working as an Electrician in Arkansas
With career opportunities for licensed electricians in Arkansas growing, now is a great time to enter the industry. Many electricians work as independent contractors or for electrical contracting businesses. Journeymen and master electricians without a contracting license often start by working for contracting businesses, construction companies, developers, or government agencies on residential and commercial projects.
Choosing a career as an electrician in Arkansas is a smart move if you are ready to have a hands-on job that is different every day and that will give you a great income and job security. Not just anyone can do this job, though, and you have to be willing to put in the hours to learn and train how to be an electrician.
Organizations you should know
- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Arkansas Chapter
- IBEW District 10 Arkansas
- IBEW Local 295 Little Rock
- IBEW Local 700 Jonesboro
- Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Midsouth Chapter
College Listings
| School | Type | Tuition and fees per year | Net price per year | Electrician programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arkansas State University Three RiversMalvern, AR(501) 337-5000One College Circle2,028 undergraduates, fall 2023Accredited by Higher Learning Commission | Public | $3,7882024-25 | $7,345 to $12,748by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasDe Queen, AR(870) 584-4471183 College Drive1,387 undergraduates, fall 2023Accredited by Higher Learning Commission | Public | $4,6202024-25 | $4,122 to $8,264by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville, AR(479) 986-4000One College Drive7,839 undergraduates, fall 2023Accredited by Higher Learning Commission | Public | $4,9262024-25 | $4,080 to $10,240by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
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Tuition and fees are from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) for the year shown. Net price is the range of the average net prices each school published for different family incomes, from CareerSpy; it covers first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, so yours may differ. Schools that have closed are not listed.
Neighbor States
Residents of Arkansas may also wish to review their options in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee.
More Electrician Training in Arkansas
- Studying Electrical Engineering Technology at the University of Arkansas
- Little Rock’s Best Electrician Apprenticeships
- Why Study Construction Technology at NWACC
